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. 2023 Mar 2;20(1):2171314. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2023.2171314

Table 5.

Muscular Endurance and Anaerobic Capacity Outcomes in Acute Energy Drink and Energy Shot Studies.

Study Subjects Design ED/ES Condition Timing Performance Testing Protocol Results Ref #
Alford et al. 2001 12 healthy male (n = 7) and female (n = 5) subjects, aged 18–30 years; mean of
~23 years		 Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED (Red Bull®) containing 80 mg caffeine, 1 g taurine, 600 mg glucuronolactone, 27 g carbohydrates, and 40 mg inositol vs. placebo 30 min prior to exercise testing 30-s WAnT ↑ Time maintained at maximal speed (7.1 ± 0.3 s vs. 5.7 ± 0.4 s) [161]
Forbes et al. 2007 15 healthy males (n = 11) and females (n = 4) (21 ± 5 y) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED (Red Bull®) providing 2 mg∙kg BW−1 caffeine vs. isoenergetic placebo 60 min prior to exercise testing 3 sets BP RTF; 70% 1RM; 1-min rest intervals
Three 30-s WAnT; 2-min rest intervals		 ↑ Total BP repetitions (34 ± 9 vs. 32 ± 8 reps)
↔ WAnT peak or average power		 [153]
Hoffman et al. 2009 12 male strength/power athletes (21.1 ± 1.3 y; 88.6 ± 12.1 kg) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED (VPX Redline®; 158 mg of caffeine) vs. placebo 10 min prior to exercise testing 30-s WAnT ↔ WAnT performance [158]
Campbell et al. 2010 15 recreationally active males (n = 9) and females (n = 6) (21.7 ± 1.6 y; 75.1 ± 20.2 kg) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED containing 160 mg of caffeine (~2.1 mg∙kg BW−1) vs. placebo 60 min prior to exercise testing Two 20-s WAnT ↔ WAnT performance [157]
Dawes et al. 2011 41 healthy males (21.7 ± 1.74 y; 81.2 ± 10.9 kg) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED (VPX Redline®, Power Rush: Caffeine Anhydrous
175 mg, Vitamin C 60 mg, Niacin 5 mg, Vitamin B12 0.0625 mg, Vitamin B6 0.75 mg, Folic Acid 0.2 mg, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
125 mg, Beta-Alanine 12.5 mg, DL-Phenylalanine
0.325 mg, L-Phenylalanine
0.325 mg) vs. placebo		 30 min prior to exercise testing Pushup RTF ↑ Total pushup repetitions (12.5% vs. 3.25%) [155]
Astorino et al. 2012 15 collegiate soccer players (19.5 ± 1.1 y; 63.4 ± 6.1 kg) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED (Red Bull®) providing 1.3 mg∙kg BW−1 caffeine and 1000 mg taurine vs. placebo 60 min prior to exercise testing 8 bouts of the modified t-test ↔ Mean sprint time
↔ HR and RPE		 [160]
Duncan et al. 2012 13 resistance-trained males (22.7 ± 6.0 y) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED (179 mg caffeine alongside a matrix of the
following ingredients: vitamins B3, B6, B9, and B12; tyrosine; taurine; malic acid; and glucuronolactone in a total volume of 1,024 mg combined) vs. placebo.		 60 min prior to exercise testing 1 set RTF on BP, deadlift, prone row, and back squat; 60% 1RM ↑ Mean repetitions performed to failure (ED: 20.1 ± 6.3 vs. Placebo: 18.6 ± 5.6 reps) [154]
Eckerson et al. 2013 17 physically active men (21 ± 1 y, 85.5 ± 9.3 kg) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED (Sugar-free Red Bull®) containing 160 mg caffeine and 2000 mg taurine vs. a caffeine only drink (160 mg) vs. placebo 60 min prior to exercise testing 1 set BP RTF; 70% 1RM ↔ Volume load [151]
Campbell et al. 2016 19 college-aged males and females (22.4 ± 3.2
years, 69.0 ± 12.7 kg body mass)		 Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED (VPX Redline®, Power Rush: Caffeine Anhydrous
175 mg, Vitamin C 60 mg, Niacin 5 mg, Vitamin B12 0.0625 mg, Vitamin B6 0.75 mg, Folic Acid 0.2 mg, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
125 mg, Beta-Alanine 12.5 mg, DL-Phenylalanine
0.325 mg, L-Phenylalanine
0.325 mg) vs. placebo.		 30 min prior to exercise testing YMCA bench press test
Curl up test
Repeated sprint test		 ↔ Bench press repetitions
↔ Curl up performance
↔ Sprint speed		 [142]
Magrini et al. 2016 31 healthy (males, n = 23; females, n = 8) Placebo (Age: 21.2 ± 1.7 yrs.; Height: 169.0 ± 13.2 cm; Weight: 78.6 ± 17.9 kg; Body fat%: 16.65 ± 5.6 %) and ED (Age: 23.2 ± 2.6 yrs.; Height: 167.7 ± 10.4 cm; Weight: 75.7 ± 14.9 kg; Body fat%: 14.91 ± 4.7 %) Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel design ED containing 158 mg caffeine and proprietary blend of other ingredients vs. placebo 30 min prior to exercise testing Pushup RTF ↔ Pushup repetitions [156]
Zileli et al. 2019 18 male amateur soccer players (21.0 ± 1.6
y, 70.6 ± 9.1 kg)		 Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED (Red Bull®) containing 80 mg caffeine, 1000 mg taurine, 600 mg glucuronolactone, 27 g carbohydrates, and 40 mg inositol vs. apple juice placebo 60 min prior to exercise testing WAnT ↔ WAnT performance [159]
Harty et al. 2020 16 resistance-trained males (n = 8; 22.4 ± 4.9 y; 78.8 ± 14.0 kg and females (n = 8; 24.5 ± 4.8 y; 67.5 ± 11.9 kg) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED (Bang® Keto Coffee) containing 130 kcal, 300 mg caffeine, 20 g protein vs. placebo (30 kcal, 11 mg caffeine, 1 g protein) 40 min prior to exercise testing LP RTF; 2x body mass for males/1.5x body mass for females ↔ LP repetitions [152]
Reis et al. 2021 12 males (22 ± 2.6 y, 74.4 ± 5.5 kg) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study ED providing 3 mg∙kg BW−1 caffeine and carbohydrates vs. sugar-free ED containing 3 mg∙kg BW−1 caffeine vs. placebo 40 min prior to exercise testing RPE during 55-minute treadmill run at 65-75% VO2max ↑ Sprint time of 19.8% and 19.0% compared to placebo following ingestion of ED and sugar-free ED, respectively
↓ RPE during exercise for both ED conditions compared to placebo		 [185]

↑ = ED/ES significantly greater (p < 0.05) than control; ↓ = ED/ES significantly less (p < 0.05) than control; ↔ = no significant difference between ED/ES and control; 1RM = 1 repetition maximum; BP = Bench press; ED = energy drink; g = gram; HR = heart rate; kg = kilogram; LP = Leg press; mg = milligram; RPE = Rating of perceived exertion; RTF = repetitions to fatigue; y = years; WAnT = Wingate anaerobic cycle test